Four Things What it takes to be rich in life

I have a buddy, Roy, who once said to me, “You know what it really takes to be rich in life?”

Didn’t take long to come up with my answer, because I was still relatively young and dumb at the time, still focused rather exclusively on material possessions.

“My own single-pilot Cessna Citation jet, which I can fly myself wherever and whenever I so choose. My own golf course. A houseboat stocked with cold beverages. And enough money to never have to ask anyone, ‘how much does it cost?’ That, and having my wife always say, ‘yes, dear,’ no matter what my request might be.”

“No,” said Roy. “What a person needs is a 4.0 rating in life – four things that make a person rich beyond measure.”

“Okay,” I said, “so what are these four things?”

“God, number one. Some sort of foundational spiritual belief that reminds you that you’re not the most important thing in the world, and upon which you can base your hopes and prayers. Number two, love. Some sort of love in your life. Number three, good health. Without good health, you can have all the money in the world and still be broke. Number four, a roof over your head.”

I thought about it, and it makes sense to me. A pretty simple formula really.

“And what’s more,” Roy said, “is the fact that too few people have all four at the same time. They’ll have love, but no roof. A roof, but bad health.”

Meaning, for those fortunate enough to have all four simultaneously, you can count yourselves among the very wealthy. You’re rich beyond belief.

Sadly, though, most people who have all four don’t really know how rich they are. They’re solely focused on material wealth and possessions, crammed down their collective throats by savvy marketeers.

One of my all-time favorite authors, Kurt Vonnegut, used to say that a favorite uncle of his always maintained that most people never realize how good they have it. Not until they realize that their time really has run out. So, what his uncle used to do was always take time to stop and smell the roses. He’d be sitting under a shade tree on a hot, summer day, sipping a lemonade, or engaged in some other enjoyable experience, and he’d always stop, look around at those around him, and say, “If this isn’t nice, I don’t know what is.”

Corny perhaps. But in today’s maddening world, it’s often the simple pleasures that give us the most enjoyment – God, love, good health, and a roof over our head.

Also, a good cigar isn’t bad either.

Last, but not least, good health for the people we hold most dear.